Jones Bayou runs south to north straight through Cleveland, alongside the old Illinois Central rail line that the town was built around in the 1880s. The Bolivar County seat is home to Delta State University and about 11,000 residents, and it gets close to 60 inches of rain in an average year. Add spring and fall thunderstorms, the occasional tornado and Delta ice storms, and Cleveland property owners deal with a steady mix of roof leaks, wet floors and frozen pipes.
The Restoration Job connects callers with independent restoration providers; it is a free referral line and does not do the work itself. Call (888) 317-9980 any time to reach a company that handles storm damage cleanup, water removal, drying and mold work in Cleveland and nearby Bolivar County towns.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Cleveland. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
The September 2011 Tornado and Other Delta Storms
On the evening of September 25, 2011, an EF-1 tornado with winds near 100 mph tracked 11 miles from northwest of Cleveland to east-southeast of town, according to the National Weather Service in Jackson. It damaged part of a subdivision and a Walmart and Sears, and the same storm system brought down trees across the Delta and caused some flash flooding. Another EF-1 touched down near Drew in Sunflower County that night.
Wind damage becomes water damage fast. A lifted shingle line, a punctured roof deck or a broken window lets rain into attics and wall cavities, and insulation can hold that water out of sight for days. After any severe storm, check the attic with a flashlight, look for new ceiling stains, and get openings tarped. A provider handling storm damage cleanup will usually secure the building first, then dry what got wet.
Living Near Jones Bayou
A slow Delta bayou drains a lot of flat land, and when heavy rain falls quickly it can rise and back up the ditches and storm drains that feed it. Homes in low spots near Jones Bayou or along poorly draining streets are the most likely to see water in garages, crawl spaces or ground-level rooms. FEMA's flood maps show where mapped flood zones are, and a separate flood policy is the only coverage for rising water, since homeowners policies leave it out.
Water that came from outside should be treated as contaminated. Expect wet carpet and pad to be removed, drywall cut above the water line and framing cleaned before drying starts.
Ice on the Lines, Water in the Walls
The NWS describes the February 1994 Delta ice storm as the worst in the region since 1951, and Cleveland was inside its hardest-hit corridor, along with Greenville and Indianola. Some customers waited up to a month for power. The January 2026 storm left about a quarter inch of ice at Cleveland, followed by lows in the teens.
Long outages in that kind of cold are when pipes split, especially in older homes with plumbing under raised floors and in rental houses near campus that sit empty over winter break. Students and landlords should agree ahead of time on who shuts off and drains the water before leaving, and who checks on the property during a freeze.
What Happens on a Typical Cleveland Water Job
- Assessment. The crew finds the source, maps wet areas with moisture meters and notes whether the water was clean, gray or contaminated.
- Removal. Standing water is extracted and materials that cannot be saved are taken out.
- Drying. Dehumidifiers and air movers run for several days, with daily readings. Learn more about water extraction and drying.
- Repair. Once readings are normal, drywall, flooring and trim are replaced.
Keep a copy of the moisture logs and photos. Insurers often ask for them, and they show that the structure was dry before it was closed up.
Mold in a Wet-Climate College Town
With close to 60 inches of rain a year and long humid summers, Cleveland houses have little margin. The EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and a leak that goes unnoticed in a closed-up rental or a storage room can easily run past that. Mold removal in Cleveland generally involves removing affected porous materials, cleaning the framing and fixing the leak or humidity problem behind it.
Cleveland Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Cleveland, including:
- Cleveland Founders Historic District
- Downtown Cleveland Historic District
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Rosedale
- Mound Bayou
- Shaw
- Shelby
- Benoit
- Drew
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a roof leak after a tornado in Cleveland?
Wind damage to a roof, and rain that enters through that opening, is usually handled under a homeowners policy, subject to the deductible. Rising water from Jones Bayou or street flooding is a different matter and requires a separate flood policy. Photograph the roof, the openings and the interior damage before cleanup, and save receipts for tarps and emergency repairs.
I rent near Delta State and found water in my apartment. Who handles it?
Tell your landlord or property manager in writing right away and take photos. The building owner is generally responsible for the structure and plumbing, while your own renters policy, if you have one, may cover your belongings. Move what you can out of the wet area. The owner will usually arrange the restoration work, but you can call (888) 317-9980 if you need help finding a provider.
Where can I find emergency information for Bolivar County?
Bolivar County's emergency management director is listed in MEMA's county contacts directory. The National Weather Service office in Jackson issues watches and warnings for Cleveland. After a storm, MEMA also posts disaster assistance information when a declaration is made. For cleanup help, we can connect you with an independent provider at (888) 317-9980.